Waldschmidt



Dec. 4, 1956 H. WALDSCHMIDT Re. 24,250

ELECTRICIANS FISH TAPE REEL Original Filed Oct. 1, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

A T'roRNE Y- R... 24,250 Reissued Dec. 4, 1956 ELECTRICIANS FlSH TAPEREEL Henry Waldschmidt, Culver City, Calif.

Original No. 2,689,709, dated September 21, 1954, Serial No. 383,461,October 1,1953. Application for reissue May 23, 1955, Serial No. 510,596

24 Claims. (Cl. 254-134.3)

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specifi" cation; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to reels for electricians fish tape (a tape usedin fishing electric conductors through metal conduit in the wiring ofbuildings etc). Its general object is to improve upon and facilities theoperation of the conventional fish tape reel.

The conventional reel comprises simply a drum of toroidal (ring-shaped)general contour, with a deep channel cross section including a bottomweb, conventionally of cylindrical form, upon which the narrow flatmetal tape is wound, together with axially spaced side wall membersprojecting generally radially outwardly from said web and terminating inperipheral lips which define between them a circumferential slot, ofsubstantially the same width as the tape, through which the tapeemerges. Customarily, the width of the slot is the same or slightly lessthan the width of the tap, so that the tape is imprisoned inside thereel except when forcibly pulled out of or into the reel. in eithercase, the electrician grasps the reel in one hand and the tape in theother hand, and manipulates the portion of the tape which extendstangentially from the body of tape wound upon the reel bottom, throughthe peripheral slot of the reel, and subjects this tangential portion totension by a pull which is directed either radially outwardly orradially inwardly in order to remove a length of the tape from the reelor to reinsert a length of the tape back into the reel, respectively.The tape is customarily of rectangular section, of sufiicient thickness(e. g. As x .045, /2" x .060", A" x .060") to resist buckling andtwisting when in use, and has corner edges which tend to chafe andabrade the hands of the electrician during the above referred to pullingprocess. To force the tape into and out of the reel calls for theexpenditure of muscular energy, and this, coupled with the abradingeffect on the hands, makes the use of the tape a wearing task for theoperator.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved fishtape reel which includes mechanism for directly spreading the lips ofthe reel drum where the tape passes between the lips, so that theoperator need no longer utilize the wedging contact between the sidemargins of the tape and the reel lips, in order to effect suchspreading.

A further object is to provide an improved fish tape reel whicheliminates the necessity for the operator grasping the tape directly inhis hand and applying tension thereto in order to remove it from thereel or reinsert it into the reel.

More specifically, the invention contemplates an improved fish tape reelembodying means for mechanically engaging and spreading the lips of thereel drum while simultaneously guiding the tape through the widenedportion of the reel drum slot which is thereby provided.

In this connection it may be noted that as the tape is unreeled, thewidened area of the slot must trave circumferentially around the reeldrum, and accordingly the invention further aims to provide a mechanismincluding a spreading device which is so associated with the reel drumas to be freely movable circumferentially thereon while exerting awedging action between the lips of the reel drum so as to spread theslot and allow the tape to freely emerge.

A further object is to provide such an arrangement wherein the amount ofshort required for spreading the lips is reduced to a minimum throughthe use of a spreading device having a rolling action whichsubstantially eliminates friction in the spreading operation.

A further object is to provide such an improved fish tape reel, whereinthe spreading device is carried by a frame, which may also constitute aportion of a handle means, which [encloses] embraces a segment of thereel drum and has an anti-friction rolling connection therewith such'that the spreading device [handle] may be freely moved around thecircumference of the reel while the spreading action is being exerted.Further, the invention contemplates such an arrangement wherein thespreading device is so associated with the handle means that the hand ofthe operator may simultaneously grasp the handle means [and thespreading device] and exert pressure against the spreading device ineither of two directions so as to spread the reel drum slot either aheadof or behind the tape depending upon whether the tape is being removedfrom or reinserted into the reel.

Another object is to provide a fish reel, embodying a spreader rollercarrying frame which is adapted for ready attachment to and removal froma standard fish tape reel.

Another object is to provide such a fish tape reel, embodying a frame orhandle unit which is of a sectional structure embodying separablesections latched together so as to make it possible to quickly removethe frame [handle] from the reel drum or to replace the frame [handle]on the reel drum as desired. In this connec tion, it is a further objectto provide a combined handle means and spreading device in the form ofan attachment which may be quickly attached to any conventional fishtape reel drum as an accessory.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing specifications andappended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the reel drum embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken in the median radial plane of thereel, in the area thereof surrounded by the handle and spreaderattachment, with the latter shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view partially in section, of the releasablelatching means.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the conventional fish tape reeldrum is indicated generally at A. It comprises a cylindrical bottom webmember 7 and a pair of side flange members 8 which extend in a generallyradially outward direction and terminate in peripheral laps 9 which areaxially spaced to define slot 10. The tape 11, of narrow, relativelythick, rectangular cross section, is Wound upon the bottom web "I andhas a portion thereof, indicated at 11', which extends tangentially fromthe reeled body of tape, through slot 10, where it may be grasped andutilized by the electrician. The lips 9 are customarily in the form ofrolled beads of generally circular cross section, providing relativelysmooth double curved surfaces, which, in the conventional reel, areengaged by the edges of the tape as it is pulled into or out of thereel, the tape itself exerting a wedging action against these curvedsurfaces.

The present invention provides, in combination with the reel drum A; aframe or handle unit B of sleeve form encircling a segment of reel drumA and of arcuate longitudinal contour corresponding to that of the reeldrum A; and an actuator unit, referred to generally by the referenceLetter C.

[Handle] Frame unit B is of sectional construction, comprising an outer[member] section and an inner [member] section 16 which is separablylatched to outer [member] section 15. Outer [member] section 15 isgenerally is generally of channel section, including a peripheral webportion 17 (Figs. 2 and 3) and a pair of side wall members 18 which arein fairly close embracing though freely slidable relation to sideflanges 8 of the reel drum A. At the respective ends of the [handle]frame unit B, side wall members 18 are extended radially outwardly toprovide axially spaced ears 19, and peripheral web 17 is archedoutwardly at 20 and joined to ears 119 to provide roller housing socketsin which are received rollers 21. Rollers 21 constitute the outer racesof anti-friction bearings 22 which are journalled on pintles 23 the endsof which are mounted in ears 19. Rollers 21 are arranged to bear againstthe respective peripheral beads 9 of the reel drum A so as to providefor rolling support of [handle 17] frame B on drum A with the inner wallof web member 17 out of contact with the periphery of the drum.

Inner frame [handle member] section 16 is likewise of channel section,including a web having a chordal central portion 24 and arched endportions 25 and 26; [member] section 16 further including side flanges27 having at one end slots 28 to receive pins 29 that are anchored inside wall members 18 of the outer frame section [handle portion] 15. Atthe other end of frame [handle member] section 16, there is a springurged latch comprising a pintle 30 which extends through a pocket 31 atthe end of web portion 26 L] and is journalled in the side flanges 27[28 of frame section [handle member] 16, a pair of spaced elbow-shapedarms 32 mounted on pintle 30 (Fig. 4) and projecting generally radiallyoutwardly, and a pin 33 carried by the free ends of arms 32 and havinglimited swinging movement in slots 34 (Fig. 5) in side flanges 27 [28].The ends of pin 33 are adapted to engage in slots 34 in radiallyinwardly projecting end parts 35 of side wall members 18 of frame[handle member] section 1.5 at the latching end thereof, the slots 34'extending generally circumferentially. A coil spring 36, under tensionbetween pin 33 and a hook 37 struck inwardly from web member 26 adjacentpocket [socket] 31, urges the pin 33 in a direction to bottom in slots34- and 34. End parts 35 are shaped to fit snugly in pocket [pockets]31, having curved inner edges 38 which are fitted to the inner wall ofarched web portion 26 of frame section [handle member] 15, and squaredend edges 39 which abut the terminal wall portion of pocket [socket] 31.Thus the end parts 35 are adapted to establish a loose Wedging fit inpocket [socket] 31, such that pocket [socket] 31 can be separated fromparts 35 only by moving in a generally radially inward direction[, asindicated by the arrow in Fig. 5]. Such separation is prevented by theinterengagement of the respective end. portions of latch pin 33 innotches 34 and 34 of the pocket [socket] '51 and end parts 35respectively.

To release the latching connection between frame [handle members]sections 15 and 16, the operator engages the ends of latch pin 33between the fingers, [and] swinging the pin out of notches 3d, 34 untilit clears the end edges 39 of end parts 35. Piyoting the inner frame[handle member] section 16 at its one end on pins 29, the other endthereof is swung radially inwardly to provide sufficient clearancebetween web member 26 of frame [handlemernberllsection 16 and frame[handle member] sectio 'l L1 to permitend portion 25 to be withdrawnfrom pins 29. Frame section 16 carries a roller 54 which forms the outerrace of an anti-friction bearing 55 journalled upon a pintle 56 the endsof which are mounted in slots 57 in the respective side flanges 28.

Spreader unit C comprises a lever 46], which may be of stamped sheetmetal construction, including a web portion 41, side wall members 42, aforward nose portion 43, and a tail member 44, functioning as afinger-thumb grip. Side wall members 42 are spaced apart just enough toembrace a pair of discus shaped spreading rollers 45, 45 havingfrusto-conical side faces, whereby they taper to minimum width at theirperipheries and are engageable in the slot 10. Side wall members 42 arereceived in a slot 46 in peripheral web 17 of the frame [handle member]section 15. Rollers 45, 45 are pivoted on the ends of pins 47, 47' whichare mounted in side walls 42.

Lever 40 is pivoted, intermediate its ends, upon a pivot 48, between apair of cars 49 which are struck outwardly from web member 17 at therespective sides of slots 46. Thus the lever may be rocked so thateither the forward or the rearward end thereof may be moved radiallyinwardly with reference to the [handle] frame unit B, thus to forceroller 45 or 45' between lips 9, spreading the lips.

Tape 11 has a portion 11 thereof projecting between rollers 45, 45 andthrough an aperture 52 in the end of the lever 40. A guide member 53inside of lever 4% guides the tape from the point between the rollers tothe aperture 52.

It will now be apparent that the frame [handle] B may he slidcircumferentially along reel drum A with rollers 45, 45' riding againstlips 9 and rotating to provide a substantially frictionless connectionbetween them. By tilting lever 50 as indicated by arrow 56, roller 45'may be forced radially inwardly, exerting a wedging action to spreadlips 9 behind the tape 11'. By tilting lever 4 as indicated by arrow 51,roller .5 may be forced radially inwardly, to spread the lips 9 ahead ofthe tape 11'.

A pair of leaf springs [58] 64 are secured at their respective ends, asby. rivets [59] 65, to frame [handle member] section 16, with theircentral portions bearing against pintle 56 on respective sides of roller54. Roller 54 is thus embraced between the leaf springs 64 [58] (Fig.3).

In the operation of the device, the operator gnasps the frame [handle] Band spreader unit C in one hand, with the fingers extending inwardly andhooked around frame [handle member] section '16 and with the thumbhooked under grip 44 (or with grip 44 grasped between the thumb andforefinger). It will be apparent that, with the hand thus grasping thelever 40 and frame B simultaneously, that the lever 40 and the frame Bcooperatively function as a handle means for holding the spreaderattachment in one hand while the reel or tape is grasped in the otherhand for effecting rotation of the. reel. He then grasps the reel memberA in the other hand and by a suitable pull, causes the reel member A torotate inside of handle unit B. During such rotation, he bears upwardlyagainst the leftward end of lever 40 as viewed in Fig. 2, in order tospread the lips 9 rearwardly of tape section 11 when rolling the tapeupon the reel (in which case the reel is rotated counterclockwise). Ifhe is removing tape from the reel, he rotates the reel member Aclockwise .and bears downwardly against the grip 44 of the lever 40 tospread the lips 9 ahead of the tape 11'. Thus the tape may be removedfrom or reeled onto the reel drum without frictional engagement betweenthe side margins of the tape and the lips 9, the spreading of the lipsbeing accomplished by the wedging pressure of rollers 45, 45' as theyroll against lips *9 with a substantially ant-Lfriction rolling contact.

The guide 53 serves to bend the tape 11' around the circumference of theroller 45' so as to assure contact betweenthe tape and the roller at alltimes.

When the roller 45 is pressed inwardly to spread the reel lips aheadofthe tape 11' for unreeling the tape (the reel' moving-clockwise) therotation (counterclockwise) of roller.45-'bet-ween the reel lips, asdriven thereby, will be in the direction for assisting the tape 11 inits unreeling movement, and the roller 45', freed from contact with thereel lips, will idle in the direction (clockwise) opposite that which itwould be driven if engaged by the reel lips, thus providing free-rollinganti-friction support for the tape passing across its periphery.

When the tape is being reeled into the reel, roller 45', depressedbetween and driven by the reel lips, now moving counterclockwise, willrotate clockwise, counter to the direction of movement of the tape intothe reel, and will exert a dragging eflect against the tape which willcause the tape to be tightly wound in the reel. Roller 45 in this casewill roll freely with the tape movement in a clockwise direction, or, ifany contact with the reel lips remains, will be driven in that directionto assist the movement of the tape into the reel.

When the lever 40 is in a neutral position, the lips 9 will grip theedges of tape section 11', so as to clamp the tape securely againstunreeling.

It will now be apparent that the invention provides an improved reelspreading apparatus including, as essential elements, a frame which isattachable to and detachable from a conventional fish tape reel and hasmeans to bear against the reel in a manner to provide for substantiallyfree relative circumferential movement between the reel and the frame,together with a spreader roller carried by the frame and maintained in aposition projecting between the lips and spreading them at the point ofegress and ingress of the tape while rolling circumferentially againstthe lips so that the reel may be rotated in response to the unrolling ofthe tape under a pull applied by one hand of the operator, while thehandle frame B is held in the other hand, thus supporting the reel forsuch rotation.

I claim:

1. In a fish tape reel, a toroidal reel drum of channel sectionincluding a web on which the tape may be 'wound and a pair of flangesprojecting radially outward-1y therefrom and having peripheral lipswhich are axially opposed to define a circumferential slot through whichthe tape is adapted to pass with an interference fit; a frame [handle]of arcuate sleeve form, enclosing a segment of said drum andcircumferenti-ally slidable thereon; an actuator lever pivoted to saidframe [handle] on an axis parallel to the drum axis; and a roller ofdiscus form totatalbly mounted in said lever in the plane of said slotand projecting into said slot, said roller having firustoconical sidewalls engageable with said lips with a wedging action for spreading thelips adjacent the point of emergence of the tape through said slot whensaid lever is tilted to move said roller radially inwardly.

2. In a fish tape reel, a toroidal reel drum of channel sectionincluding a web on which the tape may he wound and a pair of flangesprojecting radially outwardly therefrom and having peripheral lips whichare axially opposed to define a circumferential slot through which thetape is adapted to pass with an interference fit; a frame [handle] ofarcuate sleeve form, enclosing a segment of said drum andcircumferentially slidahle thereon, said frame [handle] having aperipheral aperture; an actuator lever pivoted to said frame [handle] onan axis adjacent said aperture and parallel to the drum axis; and aroller of discus form rotatably mounted in said lever in the plane ofsaid slot and projecting through said aperture and into said slot, saidroller having frusto-conical side walls engageable with said lips with awedging action for spreading the lips adjacent the point of emergence ofthe tape through said slot when said lever is tilted to move said rollerradially inwardly.

3. In a fish tape reel, a toroidal reel drum of channel sectionincluding a web on which the tape may be wound, and a pair of flangesprojecting radially outwardly therefrom and having peripheral lips whichare axially opposed to define a circumferential slot through which thetape is adapted to pass with an interference fit; a frame [handle] ofarcuate sleeve form, enclosing a segment of said drum andcircumferentially slidable thereon; an actuator lever pivoted to saidframe [handle] intermediate its ends on an axis parallel to the drumaxis, for rocking movement in the plane of said slot; and a pair ofrollers of discus form rotatably mounted in said lever in said slotplane and projecting into said slot, said rollers having 'frusto-conicalside walls engage- =able with said lips with a wedging action to spreadthe lips ahead of the point of emergence of the tape through said slotwhen the lever is tilted in one direction and behind said point ofemergence when the lever is tilted in the opposite direction.

4. A fish tape reel as defined in claim 3, wherein said lever has apassage extending from between said rollers through an end of said leverat a point radially outwardly of the rollers, through which said tapepasses in emerging from the drum.

5. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame [handle] isprovided, at its respective ends, with antifriction rollers travelling.on the periphery of said drum.

6. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame [handle] isprovided, at its respective ends, with antifric-tion rollers travellingon the periphery of said drum and is provided, intermediate its ends,with a springpressed roller travelling against the inner wall of thedrum.

7. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame [handle] comprisesan outer section [member] of channel section having side portionsembracing the respective sides of the drum and projecting radiallyinwardly of the inner margin of the drum, and an inner section [member]having at its respective ends, means separably attaching the same tosaid inwardly projecting side portions of the outer section [member].

8. A reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame [handle] comprisesan outer section [memlber] of channel section having side portionsembracing the respective sides of the drum and projecting radiallyinwardly of the inner margin of the drum, and an inner section [member]having at its respective ends, means separably attaching the same tosaid inwardly projecting side portions of the outer section [member],said attaching means comprising a circumferentially extending slot inone end of said inner handle section [member], a pin mounted in thecorresponding end of the outer handle section [member] and receivable insaid slot, a generally medially inwardly extending end part on the otherend of said outer handle section [member], a pocket [socket] on thecorresponding end of the inner handle section [member] and snuglyfitting circumiferentially opposed surfaces of said end part, saidpocket [socket] and end part having registering circumferenti-aliyextending notches, and a latch element carried by said pocket [socket]and engageab-le in said notches to latch said pocket [socket] to saidend part against relative radial movement.

9. For use with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum of channelsection including a bottom web on which the tape may be wound and a pairof flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in peripherallips which define between them an endless circumferential slot throughwhich the tape passes when being unwound from the reel or rewoundtherein. a spreader comprising a frame having means for mounting thesame on the reel for relative circumferential movement; a lever carriedby said fame; and a spender roller rotatably mounted on said lever in aposition for projection into said slot and for engagement between saidlips, said lever being operable to efiect limited inward movement ofsaid roller for spreading said lips slightly to provide acircumferentialiy limited enlargement of said slot for free egress ofthe tape from the reel while being unrolled therefrom, with saidenlargement travelling circumferential-1y of the reel in accordance withrotation of the reel relative to the frame.

10. A spreader as defined in claim 9, wherein said lever is a separatepart, pivoted to said frame on an axis adjacent and transverse to thereel periphery, and wherein said roller is journalled on said lever onan axis adjacent said reel periphery and circumferentially spaced fromsaid lever pivot axis, for substantially radial inward movement when thelever is tilted.

11. A spreader as defined in claim 10, wherein there are two spreaderrollers, spaced circumferentially from said lever pivot axis on bothsides thereof, one of said rollers being operative when the tape isbeing unwound from the reel and the other being operative when the tapeis being wound into the reel.

12. For use with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum of channelsection including a bottom web on which the tape may be wound and a pairof flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminatng in peripherallips which define between them an endless circumferential slot throughwhich the tape passes when being unwound from the reel or rewoundtherein. a spreader comprising a frame having means for mounting thesame on the reel for relative circumferential movement; a lever carriedby said frame; and a spreader roller rotatably mounted on said lever ina position for projection into said slot and for engagement between saidlips, said roller being operable to spread said lips slightly to providea circumferentially limited enlargement of said slot for free egress ofthe tape from the reel while being unrolled therefrom, with saidenlargement travelling circumferentially of the reel in accordance withrotation of the reel relative to the frame.

13. In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drumof channel section including a bottom web on which the tape may be woundand a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating inperipheral lips which define between them an endless circular slotnormally slightly narrower than the tape, through which the tape passeswhen being unwound from the reel or rewound therein. a spreadercomprising a frame having means for mounting the same on the reel forrelative circumferential movement; a handle lever attached to said frameand disposed radially outwardly thereof; and a spreader roller rotatablymounted on said lever outwardly of said reel, projecting into said slot,and operable with a rolling engagement between said lips to spread saidlips slightly to provide a circumferentially limited enlargement of saidslot for free egress of the tape from the reel while being unrolledtherefrom, with said enlargement travelling circumferentially of thereel in accordance with rotation of the reel relative to the frame 14.In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum ofchannel section including a bottom web on which the tape may be woundand a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating inperipheral lips which define between them an endless circular slotnormally slightly narrower than the tape, through which the tape passeswhen being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: a spreadercomprising a frame having means for mounting the same on the reel forrelative circun'iferential movement; said mounting means including abearing roller mounted on the frame within the reel and engaging theinner face thereof with a rolling contact; a spreader roller of discform; and means rotatably mounting said spreader roller on said frameradially outwardly of the reel and projecting into said slot, saidspreader roller including a portion slightly thicker than the normalwidth of said slot, operable with rolling engagement between said lipsto spread said lips slightly to provide a circumferentially limitedenlargement of said slot for free egress of the tape from the reel whilebeing unrolled therefrom, with said enlargement travellingcircumferentially of the reel in accord ance with rotation of the reelrelative to the frame.

15. In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drumof channel section including a bottom web .on which the tape may bewound and a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom andterminating in peripheral lips which define between them an endlesscircu'lar slot normally slightly narrower than the tape, through whichthe tape passes when being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: aspreader comprising a handle means including a frame portion bridging asection of said reel radially, and a lever portion projecting radiallyoutwardly of said frame portion; and a plurality of rollers rotatablymounted on said handle means, including a bearing roller in rollingcontact with the inner face of said reel web and a spreader rollermounted on said lever portion, disposed radially outwardly of the reeland projecting into said slot, said rollers and frame portion being inembracing relation to said reel section and cooperatively providing arolling connection between said spreader and said reel whereby saidhandle means may be grasped in one hand of an operator while the reel isrotated by his other hand, said spreader roller being operable with arolling engagement between said lips to spread said lips slightly toprovide a circumferentially limited enlargement of said slot for freeegrees of the tape from the reel while being unrolled therefrom, withsaid enlargement travelling circumferentially of the reel in accordancewith rotation of the reel relative to the frame.

16, In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drumof channel section including a bot tom web on which the tape may bewound and a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom andterminating in .peripherallips which define between them an endlesscircular slot normally slightly narrower than the tape, through whichthe tape passes when being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: aspreader comprising a handle means including a frame portion bridging asection of said reel radially, and a lever portion projecting radiallyoutwardly of said, frame portion; and a plurality of rollers rotatablymounted on said handle means, including a bearing roller in rollingcontact with the inner face of said reel web and a spreader rollerdisposed radially outwardly -of the reel and projecting into said slot,said rollers and frame portion being in embracing relation to said reelsection and cooperatively providing a rolling connection between saidspreader and said reel whereby said handle means may be grasped in onehand of an operator while the reel is rotated by his other hand, saidspreader roller including a portion slightly thicker than the normalwidth of said slot, to spread said lips slightly to provide acircumferentially limited enlargement of said slot for free egress ofthe tape from the reel while being 'un-rol'led therefrom, with saidenlargement travelling'circumferentially of the reel in accordance withrotation 'of the reel relative to the frame.

17. In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drumof channel section including a bottom web on which the tape may be woundand a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating inperipheral lips which define between them an endless circular slotnormally slightly narrower than the tape, through which the tape passeswhen being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: a spreadercomprising a handle means including a frame portion bridging a sectionof-said reel radially, and a lever portion projecting radially outwardlyof said frame portion; and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted onsaid handle means, including bearing rollers disposed radially inwardlyand outwardly of said reel section and respectively engaging said weband the periphery of the reel, and a spreader disc disposed radiallyoutwardly of the reel and project ing into said slot, said rollers andframe portion being collectively .in, embracing relation to said reelsection and cooperatively providing a rolling connection between saidspreader and said reel whereby said handle means may be grasped in onehand of an operator while the reel is rotated by the other hand, saidspreader disc including a portion, of slightly greater thickness thanthe width of. said slot, operable with a rolling engagement between saidlips to spread said lips slightly to provide a circumferentially limitedenlargement of said slot for free egress of the tape from the reel whilebeing unrolled therefrom, with said enlargement travellingcircumferentially of the reel in accordance with rotation of the reelrelative to the frame.

18. For use with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum of channelsection including a bottom web on which the tape may be wound and a pairof flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in peripherallips which define between them an endless circumferential slot normallyslightly narrower than the tape through which the tape passes when beingunwound from the reel or rewound therein: a spreader comprising a handlemeans including a frame portion adapted to bridge a section of said reelradially and a lever portion disposed radially outwardly of said frameportion, and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said handlemeans, including a bearing roller positioned to have rolling contactwith the inner face of said reel web and a spreader roller positioned toproject into said slot from a position radially outwardly of the reel,said rollers and frame being arranged to embrace said reel section andto cooperatively provide a rolling connection between said spreader andsaid reel whereby said handle means may be grasped in one hand of anoperator while the reel is rotated by the other hand, said spreaderroller including a portion, of slightly greater thickness than the widthof said slot, operable with a rolling engagement between said lips tospread said lips slightly to provide a circumferentially limitedenlargement of said slot for free egress of the tape from the reel whilebeing unrolled therefrom, with said enlargement travellingcircumferentially of the reel in accordance with rotation of the reelrelative to the frame.

19. For use with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum of channelsection including a bottom web on which the tape may be wound and a pairof flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in peripherallips which define between them an endless circumferential slot normallyslightly narrower than the tape through which the tape passes when beingunwound from the reel or rewound therein: a spreader comprising a handlemeans adapted to bridge a section of said reel radially, and a pluralityof rollers rotatably mounted on said handle means, including a bearingroller positioned to have rolling contact with the inner face of saidreel web and a spreader roller positioned to project into said slot froma position radially outwardly of the reel, said rollers and frame beingarranged to embrace said reel section and to cooperatively provide arolling connection between said spreader and said reel whereby saidhandle means may be grasped in one hand of an operator while the reel isrotated by the other hand, said spreader roller including a portion, ofslightly greater thickness than the width of said slot, operable with arolling engagement between said lips to spread said lips slightly toprovide a circumferentially limited enlargement of said slot for freeegress of the tape from the reel while being unrolled therefrom, withsaid enlargement travelling circumferentially of the reel in accordancewith rotation of the reel relative to the frame.

20. For use with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum of channelsection including a bottom web on which the tape may be wound and a pairof flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in peripherallips which define between them an endless circumferential slot, normallyslightly narrower than the tape through which the tape passes when beingunwound from the reel or rewound therein: a spreader comprising a handlemeans adapted to bridge a section of said reel radially,

and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said handle means,including bearing rollers positioned to have rolling contact with saidweb and the periphery of the reel respectively and a spreader rollercomprising a disc positioned to project radially inwardly into said slotfrom a point outwardly of the reel, said rollers and frame portion beingarranged to collectively embrace said reel section and to cooperativelyprovide a rolling connection between said reel and handle means wherebythe latter may be grasped in one hand of an operator while the reel isrotated by the other hand, said spreader disc being operable with arolling engagement between said lips to spread said lips slightly toprovide a circumferentially limited enlargement of said slot for freeegress of the tape from the reel while being unrolled therefrom, withsaid enlargement travelling circumferentially of the reel in accordancewith rotation of the reel relative to the frame.

21. In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drumof channel section including a bottom web on which the tape may be woundand a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating inperipheral lips which define between them an endless circular slotnormally slightly narrower than the tape, through which the tape passeswhen being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: a spreadercomprising a handle means including a frame portion bridging a sectionof said reel radially and a lever projecting radially outwardly of saidframe portion; and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on saidhandle means, including bearing rollers disposed radially inwardly andoutwardly of said reel section and respectively engaging said web andthe periphery of the reel, and a roller disc projecting into said slotfor bearing engagement against the tape, and operable to push the tapethrough the slot into the reel in a reeling operation, said rollers andframe portion being collectively in embracing relation to said reelsection and cooperatively providing a rolling connection between saidspreader and said reel whereby said handle means may be grasped in onehand of an operator while the reel is rotated within said frame by theother hand.

22. In combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum ofchannel cross section including a bottom web on which the tape may bewound and a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom andterminating in peripheral lips which define between them an endlesscircular slotnormally slightly narrower than the tape, through which thetape passes when being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: anattachment comprising a frame bridging a section of the reel radiallyand disposed at least in part radially inwardly and outwardly of saidreel section and respectively engaging the web and the periphery of thereel, and a member on the frame, sufliciently thin to enter said slot,projecting into the slot for bearing engagement against the tape andoperable to push the tape through the slot into the reel in a reelingaction, said frame being in embracing relation to the reel section andcooperatively providing a moving conection between the attachment andthe reel whereby the frame may be grasped in one hand by the operatorwhile the reel is rotated within the frame by the other hand of theoperator 23. In a combination with a fish tape reel having a toroidalreel drum of channel section including a bottom web on which the tapemay be wound and a pair of flanges extending outwardly therefrom andterminating in peripheral lips which define between them an endlesscircular slot normally slightly narrower than' the tape, through whichthe tape passes when being unwound from the reel or rewound therein: anattachment including a frame bridging a section of said reel radiallyand having bearing means disposed radially inwardly and outwardly ofsaid reel section, and respectively engaging said web and said lips, theouter bearing means comprising a member sufliciently thin to be receivedin said slot, projecting into said slot for bearing engagement againstthe tape within the reel, and operable to push the tape through the slotinto the reel in a reeling operation, said bearing means and frame beingcollectively in embracing relation to said reel section andcooperatively providing a rotating eon nection between frame and saidreel, said frame extending arcuately along a section of the reel andfunctioning as a handle means that may be grasped in one hand ofanoperator while the reel is rotated by the other hand.

24. For use with a fish tape reel having a toroidal reel drum of channelsection including a bottom web on which the tape may be wound and a pairof flanges extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in peripherallips which define between them an endless circular slot normallyslightly narrower than the tape, through which the tape passes whenbeing unwound from the reel or rewound therein: an attachment includinga tubular member of'generally rectangular cross section and of arcuatelongitudinal contour, proportioned to receive a segment of said reel andto be grasped within the hand of an operator to function as ahandlemeans for rotatably supporting the reel while the other hand of theoperator is used for grasping an exposed portion of the reel and r0-tating the reel within said tubular member, said tubular memberincluding a peripheral portion and a radially inward portion havingrespective bearing means adapted. for bearing engagement against theperiphery and said web portion ofthe reel respectively to provide forthe rotatable mounting of the reel within said tubular member, and atape engaging member of disc form, sufliciently thin to be received insaid slot, carried by said peripheral portion of said tubular handlemember, projecting, into said slot for bearing engagement against thetape, and operable to push the tape through the slot into the reel in awind-up operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,811,945 Lange June 30, 1931 1,815,433 DunaganJuly 21, 1931 1,890,945 Hormel Dec. 13, 1932 160,589 Granfield May 30,1939 2,534,472 Norvelle Dec. 19, 1950

